EFFECT OF ISOKINETIC TRAINING ON QUADRICEPS PEAK TORQUE IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH BURN INJURY

Objective: To evaluate the improvement rate of quadriceps muscle peak torque in healthy subjects and patients with burn injuries after an isokinetic training programme. Subjects: Thirty male volunteers, 15 healthy and 15 subjects with burn injury after complete healing, participated in the study. Methods: Concentric and eccentric torque of quadriceps was measured for both groups using an isokinetic dynamometer before and after 6 weeks of isokinetic training. The tests were performed at angular velocities of 30 degrees/s and 90 degrees/s. Results: There was a significant increase in the quadriceps peak torque for both groups at both angular velocities after isokinetic training. During eccentric contraction at angular velocities of 30 degrees/s and 90 degrees/s the percentage improvement in the burned group was higher than in the healthy group (p=0.003 and p=0.0008, respectively). During concentric contraction at an angular velocity of 30 degrees/s the percentage improvement in the burned group was higher than the healthy group (p=0.020). However, during concentric contraction at an angular velocity of 90 degrees/s there was no significant difference between the groups (p=0.742). Conclusion: The isokinetic training programme was effective in increasing the concentric and eccentric peak torque of the quadriceps muscle for healthy subjects and patients with burn injuries.